Display device



SePt- 3, 1968 R. B. NALBANDIAN 3,399,781

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1966 M45@ ffrzz; Hera/wg Hrrv/S. 677/61United States Patent O1 iice 3,399,781 DISPLAY DEVICE Richard B.Nalbandian, 8900 E. Jelerson, Apt. 15, Detroit, Mich. 48214 Filed Aug.22, 1966, Ser. No. 573,922 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-1.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display device which includes an open sidedframe having a plurality of independently mounted display carriers withindependent drive means for each of the carriers which will sequentiallyexpose articles supported by the carriers.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to displaydevices, and more particularly to a device cfor displaying smoking pipeson carriers which rotate so as to display groups of pipes sequentially.

In the manketing of smoking pipes and smokin-g accessories, it has beendiliicult to display enough of the merchandise to give a customer a goodidea of what is available. The space available in most stores fordisplaying smoking products is quite limited, and much of this space isalloted to products other than pipes, such as cigars and cigarettes. Arelatively little space remains for display of pipes, and arepresentative sample of the pipes which are available cannot bedisplayed.

Summary of the invention The present invention now provides a displaydevice which, in a relatively small space, is capable of attractivelydisplaying a relatively large number of pipes. This is accomplished bymounting pipes on plural sides of carriers, which may be in the form ofboxes, and rotating the carriers so as to bring dilerent groups of pipesinto view at the front of the display device. A particular embodiment ofthe invention includes a frame which has a central open space in which aplurality of vertically extending carriers are mounted. Each carrier maybe affixed to a shaft which is supported by the frame for rotation, andthe shaft-carrier assemblies rotate independently of each other. Pipesmay be mounted all about the circumference of each carrier so thatdifferent pipes come into view at the front of the device as eachcarrier slowly rotates. A plurality of electric motors are provided, andone motor is coupled to each shaft-carrier assembly so that theseassemblies are driven independently of each other. Thus, a given carriermay be stopped, for example, to remove a pipe from it or place a pipe orpipes on it while the other carrier assemblies continue to rotate.

The carriers may have as many sides as desired and may even be circularif desired, but carriers which are rectangular or triangular incross-section have proved to be practical in actual embodiments. Byvirtue of the multiple-sided nature of the carriers and their rotation,a relatively large number of pipes can be displayed in quite a smallspace and this is a definite advantage of the display device of theinvention. The device may be placed in an elevated position over acounter, for example, so that the device does not take up limitedcounter space. The device may also have a plurality of stationary hookson it on which display cards may be hung. The display cards may containsmoking accessory items such as lighters, flints, tools, etc., so that avariety of products may be displayed. Also, the device may be providedwith a compartment covered by transparent material tor displaying themore expensive lighters and other items of relatively great value. Thiscompartment is protected from 3,399,781 Patented Sept. 3, 1968 pilferingsince it is enclosed at the front side of the display device.

Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionv to provide a displaydevice wherein smoking pipes may be displayed on plural sides ofcarriers which are rotated to successively bring different groups ofpipes into view.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device whereincarriers for displaying smoking pipes are rotated independently 0f eachother.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display device with aframe mounting a plurality of carriers for independent rotation and aplurality of motors respectively coupled to the carriers so that eachcarrier has its own motor for rotating the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device having afour-sided frame surrounding an open space with vertically extendedcarriers mounted in the open space `for rotation, each carrier having amotor provided in a part of the frame beyond the open space, therebyproviding a very compact device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device havingmovable carriers for displaying pipes and having fixed carriers fordisplaying accessory items.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

0n the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of adisplay device in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section, showing the manner inwhich each carrier is connected to a motor; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective View, partly broken away, showin-gone corner of the device where a motor is mounted.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As shown on the drawings The display device 10 has a frame 12 comprisedof two parallel horizontal frame members 14 and 16 and two parallelvertical frame members 18 and 20. These frame members may be in the formof wooden boards which are fastened together so as to form a rectangularframe 12 surrounding an open central space 22.

Mounted within this central space 22 and within the contines of theframe 12, there are live carriers 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32. Carriers 24, 28and 32 are four-sided boxes and carriers 26 and 30 are three-sidedboxes. All of these boxes are extended in the vertical direction and aregenerally parallel to each other. Each of the carriers has a pluralityof clamping fingers 33 extending through its side walls from within thecarrier, and these clamping lingers are so designed as to clamp a pipeto hold it in place on a carrier for display purposes. Each carrier24-32 is adapted to hold several pipes on each of its sides, andconsequently a relatively large number of pipes may be displayed on asingle carrier. Objects other than pipes, such as pouches, may be axedto the clamping fingers or otherwise supported on a carrier if desired.

The carriers 24-32 are mounted for rotation on the frame 12 by means ofshafts 34 which project downward from the upper side of frame member 14through the latter frame member into the central space 22. The shafts 34are parallel to each other and are mounted to rotate independently ofeach other so as to provide independent rotation of the carriers 24-32.Shafts 34 may extend all the way through the carriers and through thebottom frame member 16, or separate upper and lower shafts 34 and 36 maybe provided if desired.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, each shaft 34 extends through an opening 38in the upper frame member 14 to a space partially enclosed by the framemember 14 and extensions of the side frame members 18 and 20. A mountingblock 40 having a central aperture 42 is secured to frame member 14 sothat its aperture 42 receives one end of shaft 34. Mounted on top of theblock 40 is a motor 44, and one such motor 44 is provided for each ofthe carriers 24-32 as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2. Thus, each of thecarrier members 24-32 has its own drive motor so that each carrierrotates independently of the others. The motor 44 (FIGURE 3) is fastenedto the mounting block 40 by screws extending through ears 46, and thereduced end portion of shaft 34 is coupled to the motor 44 so that themotor rotates the shaft 34. The motors are masked from view by paneling45. The motors 44 are all of the electrical type, and there are wires 54and 56 which supply operating current to each of the motors. The wiresare connected to an electrical outlet by means of a plug 58.

Below the lower frame member 16 there is a panel 50 on which a pluralityof hooks 52 are mounted. These hooks vare adapted to receive displaycards which hang on the hooks, and each of which has a plastic caseafxed to it for containing a product such as a smoking accessory. Thedisplay cards might contain lighters, Hints, pipe knives and other itemsof merchandise in the smoking accessory line. Thus, the display devicehas both moving and stationaly displays.

The panel 50 masks the lower ends of the shafts 36, and the space behindpanel 50 may be enclosed by walls and used for storage purposes. Some ofthis storage space may be converted into a small compartment fordisplaying relatively expensive items by replacing a portion of thepanel 50 with a transparent panel 60 through which items in thecompartment may be seen. This display space is protected againstpilfering since the items are enclosed behind the transparent panel 50.

The entire display device is a very compact unit for displaying a widevariety of smoking products. Since the carriers 24-32 are multiple-sidedunits, each one of them will carry a relatively large number of pipes.The motors 44 rotate the carriers very slowly so that pipes attached tothe various sides of the carrier are sequentially brought into view atthe front of the display device. The display device may be mounted in anelevated position where it does not interfere with other displays,perhaps contained in a counter.

I claim:

1. A device for displaying smoking accessories comprising a four-sidedframe having an open central space surrounded by four side membersincluding two spaced and parallel vertical members, a plurality ofshafts extending into said central space from one of said horizontalframe members and extending parallel to each other, said frame mountingsaid shafts for independent rotation relative to each other, a displaycarrier affixed to each of said shafts with each of said carriers havinga plurality of sides each adapted to carry one or more items ofmerchandise for displaying a plurality of items on each carriersuccessively due to the rotation of the shaft thereof, a plurality ofelectric motors coupled respectively to said shafts for independentlyrotating the same, means for mounting each motor on said upperhorizontal frame member, a cover panel extending above said upperhorizontal frame member and masking said motors from view, and means forsupplying operating current to said motors.

2. The display device of claim 1 including stationary display meansaixed to said frame for displaying additional items of merchandise.

3. The display device of claim 2 in which said stationary display meansincludes a plurality of hooks mounted on a portion of said frame meansbelow said shafts and carriers.

4. The display device of claim 3 in which said stationary display meansfurther includes a compartment affixed to said frame means and having atransparent panel at the front side of said display device through whichitems provided in said compartment may be seen.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 391,013 10/1888 Bogardus 312-245X 1,061,520 5/1913 Bowden 40-33 1,603,938 10/1926 Dobbins 40--331,875,563 9/1932 Cooke 211-1.5 X 1,903,410 4/1933 Cecil 211-70 X2,492,241 12/1949 Schillinger 312-135 X 3,140,132 7/1964 Jackson 312-125CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

